Richard â€œSkipâ€ Murray

He was born Oct. 19, 1949, the son of Walter and Ellen (Freeman) Murray in Muskegon, Mich.

Rich grew up in Muskegon and attended local schools. He graduated from Ottawa Hills High School in 1968. Following graduation, he attended Ferris State University where he studied biology. Following his education, Rich began working in the building trades, eventually running his own business, Richard F. Murray Builders.

He was united in marriage to Marcia Veldman on June 30, 1973. They lived in Grand Rapids and welcomed their son, Michael, on April 10, 1975. A little more than a year later, they were blessed with their daughter, Megan, on June 29, 1976.

Rich moved to Illinois in 1997 and found love again when he married Nancy Myers McDade on July 15, 2000. Nancy and Rich began their new life together by making a home in Kaneville.

Rich was one of a kind and had a unique personality to match. When it found its counterpart in others, it bonded them together through thick and thin.

Rich had a love for the outdoors that could be traced back to his time in the Boy Scouts. He could spend all day at the beach, spending most, if not all, of it in the water. When the sun set, Rich loved to set up camp for the night and sleep under the stars.

As a man who made a living with his hands, Rich brought his talents home with him, often making furniture for family and friends. When his hands werenâ€™t busy building, they were busy playing cards, especially bridge and cribbageâ€”a pastime he handed down to his children.

Rich was a kid at heart as well. He made many fun memories playing Frisbee with his children and taking them on long and â€œtorturousâ€ walks where they were â€œsupposedâ€ to be learning things.

During the summers, Rich would never pass up a water fight, especially with the advent of Super Soaker squirt guns. When not playing outside, Rich found a home in the kitchen, often adding spices with abandon making adventurous meals. It was well known that when family and friends would eat these unique concoctions, they did so with the knowledge that Rich would become irritated if they didnâ€™t love it as much as he did.

Although he left this world without being able to say goodbye, his life made an indelible mark on friends and family that will stand the test of time.

He now joins his parents and two brothers, Gib and Pat Murray, who preceded him in death.

A memorial service will held at Needham’s Woods, 4S662 Swan Rd. Big Rock, on Saturday, Aug. 22, at 4 p.m. with fellowship to follow at Grace Fellowship Church following service.

A memorial service will also be held at Calvary Chapel Riverside, 1950 Waldorf, NW
Grand Rapids, Mich., at 11 a.m. For more information, call (616) 988-9673.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in his name. Checks may be made to the â€œRichard Murray Memorialâ€ and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address or on the web at www.conleycare.com.